Page 31 of Echo Of A Wolf

I sat curled up on the couch with my laptop. The windows were open, letting in a cool fall breeze and noises from the woods. My raven loved it here. Living at Dean’s place in the woods suited her more than our old apartment ever had.

It suited me better, too.

I’d much rather listen to the soothing sounds of the forest than the sounds of my neighbors arguing in the apartment complex. It was quiet here.

The type of quiet my soul craved.

While I had only officially moved in a few days ago, this place had felt like home the first time I walked through the door.

My cell buzzed with a new text, capturing my attention. I glanced at the screen and smiled.

I’ll be home soon. Almost finished with inventory here.

My smile widened. There was something different about him sayingI’ll be home soonversusI’ll be over soon. That one-word change made me feel giddy.

I tapped out a reply.

I’ll be waiting.

A new text came through from him half a second later.

Naked, I hope.

I skimmed my teeth over my bottom lip, suppressing a grin.

That can be arranged.

I closed my laptop and stood, ready to refill my tea, but my phone buzzed again.

Keep talking like that and I’ll leave the rest of the inventory to Chris.

I sent a laughing emoji.

This had become our routine, and I loved it. While Dean worked the dinner shift at the diner, I worked on the book I’d been hired to ghostwrite and also one I’d written for myself years ago. When he came home, we spent our nights making love and letting our animals roam freely through the woods.

It was paradise living here with him.

However, despite the peacefulness of our current life together, a shadow still loomed over us.

My brother.

While we hadn’t seen Xander since the night he tried to kill me, I knew it was only a matter of time before he showed up again. The spirit of Lucius wouldn’t let him stay gone for too long. In the meantime, all we could do was try to find the elderly shaman woman from the woods, Maribel, and hope she could help us get Lucius’s spirit out of him.

I headed to the kitchen and made myself a mug of peppermint tea. Making my way back to the couch in the living room, I grabbed the throw blanket I’d been using and headed to the front porch to wait for Dean to get home. My raven loved it when I sat on the front porch.

She felt free there.

My cell buzzed with a text. I glanced at the screen, a smile pulling at my lips, expecting to see another text from Dean. Instead, it was from Waylen in our Misfit Shifters group thread.

Everyone head to Dean and Astrid’s (btw Dean and Astrid, we’re all heading over to your place tonight) for a celebratory bonfire.

I chuckled, imagining the frown that was most likely pulling at Dean’s lips.

What are we celebrating?

I asked half a second before Dean replied.

Thanks for running that by me and Astrid first.

---